Ernest k



B. K. ADAMS. MUSIC RECORDING APPARATUS.

(No Model.)

No. 576,245. Patented Feb'. 2, 1897.

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UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

ERNEST K. ADAMS, OE NElV YORK, N. Y.

MUSIC-RECORDING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 576,245, dated February 2, 1897. Application filed October 21, 1896. Serial No. 609,517. (No model-l To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST K. ADAMS, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Music-Recording Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, refcrence being had to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of the same.

A certain class of mechanical musical instruments, such as those commonly known as Regina music-boxes, are operated by perforated disks of some durable material, generally sheet-iron, which are drawn over the keys or pipe-openings, the position and length of the perforations controlling the order and duration of the musical notes. To prepare these metallic disks, an initial or pattern plate or disk is first produced by hand, and this operation involves considerable difficulty, labor, and time not only in obtaining the marks in the correct positions, but in securing a proper correspondence between the length or duration of the musical compositions and the time fixed by the character of the disk.

My present invention consists of an apparatus in which a rotar conducting-platform or similar support is provided, upon which a circular pattern-sheet may he placed. Upon this table, or upon the surface of the sheet when laid thereon, a series of trailers bear in a radial line, said trailers being in circuits closed by the depression of piano-keys. The conducting-support is made Vertically adj ustable, so that it may be depressed to immerse the sheet laid on it in a chemical solution, which will be discolored by the passage of an electric current. The depression of one or more keys will thus cause their corresponding trailers to produce marks on the paper corresponding in position and length with the order and duration of the musical notes. The sheet thus prepared is then attached to a sheetiron blank, which may be readily punched, and from this as a pattern any number of others may be readily made.

I refer now to the accompanying drawings in illustration of the mechanism above referred to.

Figure 1 is a central vertical section of the apparatus which I have devised, the connections with the keys of a piano or organ being illustrated. Fig. 2 is a side view of one of the contact-trailers detached. Fig. 3 is a diagram of circuit connections.

A is a circular tank or receptacle mounted on antifriction-bearin gs on a supporting-base B and adapted to be rotated by a motor 0 in the same manner and at the same speed as are the disks in the music-boxes which by the use of the apparatus it is intended to prod uce. \Vhile the specific construction of this device may be considerably varied, I prefer to use an annular partition D, forming concentric compartments, the inner communieating with the outer through perforations E E at the top and bottom of the partition. In the inner compartment is a disk or platform F, mounted upon a sleeve K 011 a standard G and secured to the sleeve by the action of a spiral spring H, which forces said disk against a collar I on said sleeve.

The compartments of the tank are partly filled with a chemical solution such as is commonly employed for moistening the tapes of chemical telegraphs and which is altered in color by the action of an electric current, by preference ferrocyanid of potassium and ammonium nitrate.

Secured to an arm 13 from the base 13 and extending horizontally over the tank from center to circumference is a bar L, similar to the cross-bar in the music-box. Upon this bar are mounted a series of contacts or trailers M, insulated from each other and from the frame of the instrument and resting upon a radial line on the platform. Each of these trailers is connected by an independent insulated conductor with one of the terminals of a circuit-closer N, operated by the depression of the keys 0 of a piano or organ. The other terminals of the circuit-closers, as shown in the diagram, Fig. 8, are connected through a battery R with the conductingframe of the marking device.

When it is desired to use the instrument for the purpose of producing a pattern-disk, a circular sheet of paper P of proper diam eter is placed upon the disk F and the latter forced down into the inner compartment of the tank. This causes the solution to flow into the inner compartment through the upper series of perforations and thus to ilood and moisten the paper. When the disk F is permitted to rise to its fullest extent, the solution above it flows off and the series of trailers will rest upon the surface of the moistened paper. The motor 0 is then started and the desired musical composition played upon the piano. The currents sent by and during the depression of the piano-keys through the moistened paper to the frame of the instru ment will. produce blue marks on the paper, the positions and lengths of which will correspond to the order and duration of the notes played. \Vhen the piece is finished, the pa per sheet, with the notes recorded thereon, is removed from the platform F and applied to one of the sheet-iron blanks, which is then punched to correspond with the marks on the paper.

As above pointed out, this means of prod ucing' the pattern sheets or disks for the perforated sheets of music-boxes has marked advantages by reason of its simplicity, accuracy, and the readiness with which these patterns may be produced.

hat I claim as my invention 11.. An apparatus for prod neing patterns for i the sheets of Regina music-boxes, comprising in combination a conducting-platform for receiving a circular pattern-sheet and vertically adjustable to permit the immersion of the sheet in a chemical solution which is dis- 1 colored by an electric current, a motor for moving said support and sheet similarly to the movement of the finished sheet in a music-box, a series of contact-trailers resting on the paper sheet in a radial line, and electric circuit connections with said trailers controlled by the keys of a piano or organ, as set forth.

The combination with a rotary tank for containing a chemical solution of the hind described, a motor for rotating the same, a disk or platform for a paper sheet mounted in the tank and capable of depression therein for moistening' the paper, a series of ermtaettrailers carried by a cross-bar extending radially across the tank and independent circuit connections between said trailers and 1 he keys of a piano or organ, as set forth.

The comlnnation with the tank and a motor for rotating the same, of a platform for a paper sheet mounted therein, a spring supporting the platform and permitting its depression in the tank, and a series of contacttrailers resting: upon a radial line on saidv platform, or a sheet of paper placed thereon, as set forth.

-.i. The combination with a tank dividtul by an annular partition into concentric conipartments, said partition having perl'ora' tions near the bottom and top, of a motor for revolving the tank, a circular platform or disk for a paper sheet mounted in the inner com 'iartment and capable of depression therein, a series of contact-trailers bearing on a radial line on said disk and circuit coir neetions to said trailers, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hermlnto set my hand this 19th day of October, 'iHElU.

ERNEST h. ADAMs. W it n esses:

M. Lawson Dyna, DRYRY XV. Coornn. 

